Generator movement control

ABSTRACT

The transportation refrigeration system (100) comprising: a transport container being integrally connected to a vehicle; a transportation refrigeration unit configured to provide conditioned air to the refrigerated cargo space; an energy storage device (350) configured to provide electrical power to the transportation refrigeration unit; an electric generation device (340) configured to generate electrical power from at least one of the wheel (364) and the wheel axle (365) to charge the energy storage device (350) when the electric generation device is activated,; an inertial sensor (360) configured to detect at least one of a deceleration of the vehicle and a downward pitch of the vehicle; and a power management module (310) in electrical communication with at least one of the energy storage device (350), the electric generation device (340), and the inertial sensor (360), wherein the power management module activates the electric generation device when the inertial sensor detects at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle and the downward pitch of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein generally relate to transport refrigerationsystems and more specifically, the energy management of such transportrefrigeration systems.

Typically, cold chain distribution systems are used to transport anddistribute cargo, or more specifically perishable goods andenvironmentally sensitive goods (herein referred to as perishable goods)that may be susceptible to temperature, humidity, and otherenvironmental factors. Perishable goods may include but are not limitedto fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, eggs, dairy, seed, flowers,meat, poultry, fish, ice, and pharmaceuticals. Advantageously, coldchain distribution systems allow perishable goods to be effectivelytransported and distributed without damage or other undesirable effects.

Refrigerated vehicles and trailers are commonly used to transportperishable goods in a cold chain distribution system. A transportrefrigeration system is mounted to the vehicles or to the trailer inoperative association with a cargo space defined within the vehicles ortrailer for maintaining a controlled temperature environment within thecargo space.

Conventionally, transport refrigeration systems used in connection withrefrigerated vehicles and refrigerated trailers include a transportationrefrigeration unit having a refrigerant compressor, a condenser with oneor more associated condenser fans, an expansion device, and anevaporator with one or more associated evaporator fans, which areconnected via appropriate refrigerant lines in a closed refrigerant flowcircuit. Air or an air/gas mixture is drawn from the interior volume ofthe cargo space by means of the evaporator fan(s) associated with theevaporator, passed through the airside of the evaporator in heatexchange relationship with refrigerant whereby the refrigerant absorbsheat from the air, thereby cooling the air. The cooled air is thensupplied back to the cargo space.

On commercially available transport refrigeration systems used inconnection with refrigerated vehicles and refrigerated trailers, thecompressor, and typically other components of the transportationrefrigeration unit, must be powered during transit by a prime mover. Inmechanically driven transport refrigeration systems the compressor isdriven by the prime mover, either through a direct mechanical couplingor a belt drive, and other components, such as the condenser andevaporator fans are belt driven.

Transport refrigeration systems may also be electrically driven. In anelectrically driven transport refrigeration system, a prime movercarried on and considered part of the transport refrigeration system,drives an AC synchronous generator that generates AC power. Thegenerated AC power is used to power an electric motor for driving therefrigerant compressor of the transportation refrigeration unit and alsopowering electric AC fan motors for driving the condenser and evaporatormotors and electric heaters associated with the evaporator. A moreefficient method to power the electric motor is desired to reduce fuelusage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, a transport refrigeration system isprovided. The transportation refrigeration system including: a transportcontainer enclosing a refrigerated cargo space, the transport containingbeing integrally connected to a vehicle; a transportation refrigerationunit in operative association with the refrigerated cargo space, thetransportation refrigeration unit configured to provide conditioned airto the refrigerated cargo space; an energy storage device configured toprovide electrical power to the transportation refrigeration unit; anelectric generation device operably connected to at least one of a wheelof the transport refrigeration system and a wheel axle of the transportrefrigeration system, the electric generation device being configured togenerate electrical power from at least one of the wheel and the wheelaxle to charge the energy storage device when the electric generationdevice is activated; an inertial sensor configured to detect at leastone of a deceleration of the vehicle and a downward pitch of thevehicle; and a power management module in electrical communication withat least one of the energy storage device, the electric generationdevice, and the inertial sensor, wherein the power management moduleactivates the electric generation device when the inertial sensordetects at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle and the downwardpitch of the vehicle.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the inertial sensor is configured to detect a pitchangle of the vehicle, and wherein the power management module isconfigured to activate the electric generation device when the pitchangle is less than a selected pitch angle.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the inertial sensor is configured to detect adeceleration of the vehicle, and the power management module isconfigured to activate the electric generation device when thedeceleration is greater than a selected deceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the power management module is configured to detect astate of charge of the energy storage device and increase a torque limitof the electric generation device for a selected period of time when thestate of charge is less than a selected state of charge.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the power management module is configured to detect astate of charge of the energy storage device and increase a torque limitof the electric generation device for a selected period of time when thestate of charge is less than a selected state of charge and the pitchangle is less than a selected pitch angle.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the power management module is configured to detect astate of charge of the energy storage device and increase a torque limitof the electric generation device for a selected period of time when thestate of charge is less than a selected state of charge and thedeceleration is greater than a selected deceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: a rotational velocity sensor configured to detect arotational velocity of the electrical generation device, the rotationalvelocity sensor being in electronic communication with the powermanagement module, wherein the power management module is configured todecrease a torque limit of the electric generation device when therotational velocity of the electric generation device deceleratesgreater than a selected deceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: a rotational velocity sensor configured to detect arotational velocity of the electrical generation device, the rotationalvelocity sensor being in electronic communication with the powermanagement module, wherein the power management module is configured todecrease the torque limit of the electric generation device when therotational velocity of the electric generation device deceleratesgreater than a selected deceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the energy storage device includes a battery system.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the energy storage device is located outside of thetransportation refrigeration unit.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include that the energy storage device is located within thetransportation refrigeration unit.

According to another embodiment, a method of operating a transportrefrigeration system including a vehicle integrally connected to atransport container is provided. The method including: powering atransportation refrigeration unit using an energy storage device, thetransportation refrigeration unit being configured to provideconditioned air to refrigerated cargo space enclosed within thetransport container; charging the energy storage device using anelectric generation device operably connected to at least one of a wheelof the transport refrigeration system and a wheel axle of the transportrefrigeration system, the electric generation device being configured togenerate electrical power from at least one of the wheel and the wheelaxle to charge the energy storage device when the electric generationdevice is activated; detecting, using an inertial sensor, at least oneof a deceleration of the vehicle and a downward pitch of the vehicle;and activating, using a power management module, the electric generationdevice when the inertial sensor detects at least one of the decelerationof the vehicle and the downward pitch of the vehicle.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a pitch angle of the vehicle using the inertialsensor; and activating, using the power management module, the electricgeneration device when the pitch angle is less than a selected pitchangle.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a deceleration of the vehicle using the inertialsensor; and activating, using the power management module, the electricgeneration device when the deceleration is greater than a selecteddeceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a state of charge of the energy storage device;and increasing a torque limit of the electric generation device for aselected period of time when the state of charge is less than a selectedstate of charge.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a state of charge of the energy storage device;and increasing a torque limit of the electric generation device for aselected period of time when the state of charge is less than a selectedstate of charge and the pitch angle is less than a selected pitch angle.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a state of charge of the energy storage device;and increasing a torque limit of the electric generation device for aselected period of time when the state of charge is less than a selectedstate of charge and the deceleration is greater than a selecteddeceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a rotational velocity of the electricalgeneration device using a rotational velocity sensor, the rotationalvelocity sensor being in electronic communication with the powermanagement module; and decreasing, using the power management module, atorque limit of the electric generation device when the rotationalvelocity of the electric generation device decelerates greater than aselected deceleration.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as analternative, further embodiments of the transport refrigeration systemmay include: detecting a rotational velocity of the electricalgeneration device using a rotational velocity sensor, the rotationalvelocity sensor being in electronic communication with the powermanagement module; and decreasing, using the power management module, atorque limit of the electric generation device when the rotationalvelocity of the electric generation device decelerates greater than aselected deceleration.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product tangiblyembodied on a computer readable medium is provided. The computer programproduct including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to perform operations including: powering a transportationrefrigeration unit using an energy storage device, the transportationrefrigeration unit being configured to provide conditioned air torefrigerated cargo space enclosed within the transport container;charging the energy storage device using an electric generation deviceoperably connected to at least one of a wheel of the transportrefrigeration system and a wheel axle of the transport refrigerationsystem, the electric generation device being configured to generateelectrical power from at least one of the wheel and the wheel axle tocharge the energy storage device when the electric generation device isactivated; detecting, using an inertial sensor, at least one of adeceleration of the vehicle and a downward pitch of the vehicle; andactivating, using a power management module, the electric generationdevice when the inertial sensor detects at least one of the decelerationof the vehicle and the downward pitch of the vehicle.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure includebleeding of rotational energy of a vehicle's wheels or wheel axle togenerate electricity and power a transportation refrigeration unitenergy storage device without adversely affecting vehicle performance.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise.These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will becomemore apparent in light of the following description and the accompanyingdrawings. It should be understood, however, that the followingdescription and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatoryin nature and non-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way.With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numberedalike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a transport refrigeration system,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic illustration of a transportationrefrigeration unit of the transport refrigeration system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flow process illustrating a method of operating thetransport refrigeration system of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosedapparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification andnot limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are illustrated. FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of atransport refrigeration system 200, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic illustration ofthe transport refrigeration system 200 of FIG. 1, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

The transport refrigeration system 200 is being illustrated as a trailersystem 100, as seen in FIG. 1. The trailer system 100 includes a vehicle102 integrally connected to a transport container 106. The vehicle 102includes an operator's compartment or cab 104 and a propulsion motor 320which acts as the drive system of the trailer system 100. The propulsionmotor 320 is configured to power the vehicle 102. The energy source thatpowers the propulsion motor 320 may be at least one of compressednatural gas, liquefied natural gas, gasoline, electricity, diesel, or acombination thereof. The propulsion motor 320 may be an electric motoror a hybrid motor (e.g., a combustion engine and an electric motor). Thetransport container 106 is coupled to the vehicle 102. The transportcontainer 106 may be removably coupled to the vehicle 102. The transportcontainer 106 is a refrigerated trailer and includes a top wall 108, adirectly opposed bottom wall 110, opposed side walls 112, and a frontwall 114, with the front wall 114 being closest to the vehicle 102. Thetransport container 106 further includes a door or doors 117 at a rearwall 116, opposite the front wall 114. The walls of the transportcontainer 106 define a refrigerated cargo space 119. It is appreciatedby those of skill in the art that embodiments described herein may beapplied to a tractor-trailer refrigerated system or non-trailerrefrigeration such as, for example a rigid truck, a truck havingrefrigerated compartment.

Typically, transport refrigeration systems 200 are used to transport anddistribute perishable goods and environmentally sensitive goods (hereinreferred to as perishable goods 118). The perishable goods 118 mayinclude but are not limited to fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts,eggs, dairy, seed, flowers, meat, poultry, fish, ice, blood,pharmaceuticals, or any other suitable cargo requiring temperaturecontrolled transport. The transport refrigeration system 200 includes atransportation refrigeration unit 22, a refrigerant compression device32, an electric motor 26 for driving the refrigerant compression device32, and a controller 30. The transportation refrigeration unit 22 is inoperative association with the refrigerated cargo space 112 and isconfigured to provide conditioned air to the transport container 106.The transportation refrigeration unit 22 functions, under the control ofthe controller 30, to establish and regulate a desired environmentalparameters, such as, for example temperature, pressure, humidity, carbondioxide, ethylene, ozone, light exposure, vibration exposure, and otherconditions in the interior compartment 119, as known to one of ordinaryskill in the art. In an embodiment, the transportation refrigerationunit 22 is capable of providing a desired temperature and humidityrange.

The transportation refrigeration unit 22 includes a refrigerantcompression device 32, a refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger 34,an expansion device 36, and a refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger38 connected in refrigerant flow communication in a closed looprefrigerant circuit and arranged in a conventional refrigeration cycle.The transportation refrigeration unit 22 also includes one or more fans40 associated with the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger 34 anddriven by fan motor(s) 42 and one or more fans 44 associated with therefrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger 38 and driven by fan motor(s)46. The transportation refrigeration unit 22 may also include a heater48 associated with the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger 38. Inan embodiment, the heater 48 may be an electric resistance heater. It isto be understood that other components (not shown) may be incorporatedinto the refrigerant circuit as desired, including for example, but notlimited to, a suction modulation valve, a receiver, a filter/dryer, aneconomizer circuit.

The refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger 34 may, for example,comprise one or more refrigerant conveying coiled tubes or one or moretube banks formed of a plurality of refrigerant conveying tubes acrossflow path to the heat outlet 142. The fan(s) 40 are operative to passair, typically ambient air, across the tubes of the refrigerant heatrejection heat exchanger 34 to cool refrigerant vapor passing throughthe tubes. The refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger 34 may operateeither as a refrigerant condenser, such as if the transportationrefrigeration unit 22 is operating in a subcritical refrigerant cycle oras a refrigerant gas cooler, such as if the transportation refrigerationunit 22 is operating in a transcritical cycle.

The refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger 38 may, for example, alsocomprise one or more refrigerant conveying coiled tubes or one or moretube banks formed of a plurality of refrigerant conveying tubesextending across flow path from a return air inlet 136. The fan(s) 44are operative to pass air drawn from the refrigerated cargo space 119across the tubes of the refrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger 38 toheat and evaporate refrigerant liquid passing through the tubes and coolthe air. The air cooled in traversing the refrigerant heat rejectionheat exchanger 38 is supplied back to the refrigerated cargo space 119through a refrigeration unit outlet 140. It is to be understood that theterm “air” when used herein with reference to the atmosphere within thecargo box includes mixtures of air with other gases, such as forexample, but not limited to, nitrogen or carbon dioxide, sometimesintroduced into a refrigerated cargo box for transport of perishableproduce.

Airflow is circulated into and through the refrigerate cargo space 119of the transport container 106 by means of the transportationrefrigeration unit 22. A return airflow 134 flows into thetransportation refrigeration unit 22 from the refrigerated cargo space119 through the refrigeration unit return air intake 136, and across therefrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger 38 via the fan 44, thusconditioning the return airflow 134 to a selected or predeterminedtemperature. The conditioned return airflow 134, now referred to assupply airflow 138, is supplied into the refrigerated cargo space 119 ofthe transport container 106 through the refrigeration unit outlet 140.Heat 135 is removed from the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger34 through the heat outlet 142. The transportation refrigeration unit 22may contain an external air inlet 144, as shown in FIG. 2, to aid in theremoval of heat 135 from the refrigerant heat rejection heat exchanger34 by pulling in external air 137. The supply airflow 138 may cool theperishable goods 118 in the refrigerated cargo space 119 of thetransport container 106. It is to be appreciated that the transportationrefrigeration unit 22 can further be operated in reverse to warm thecontainer system 106 when, for example, the outside temperature is verylow. In the illustrated embodiment, the return air intake 136, therefrigeration unit outlet 140, the heat outlet 142, and the external airinlet 144 are configured as grilles to help prevent foreign objects fromentering the transportation refrigeration unit 22.

The transport refrigeration system 200 also includes a controller 30configured for controlling the operation of the transport refrigerationsystem 200 including, but not limited to, the operation of variouscomponents of the refrigerant unit 22 to provide and maintain a desiredthermal environment within the refrigerated cargo space 119. Thecontroller 30 may also be able to selectively operate the electric motor26. The controller 30 may be an electronic controller including aprocessor and an associated memory comprising computer-executableinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto perform various operations. The processor may be but is not limitedto a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide arrayof possible architectures, including field programmable gate array(FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integratedcircuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processingunit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memorymay be a storage device such as, for example, a random access memory(RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic orany other computer readable medium.

The transportation refrigeration unit 22 is powered by the energystorage device 350, which provides electrical power to thetransportation refrigeration unit 22 and will be discussed furtherbelow. Examples of the energy storage device 350 may include a batterysystem (e.g., a battery or bank of batteries), fuel cells, flow battery,and others devices capable of storing and outputting electric energythat may be DC. The energy storage device 350 may include a batterysystem, which may employ multiple batteries organized into batterybanks.

The battery 350 may be charged by a stationary charging station 386 suchas, for example a wall 48V power outlet. The charging station 386 mayprovide single phase (e.g., level 2 charging capability) or three phaseAC power to the energy storage device 350. It is understood that thecharging station 386 may have any phase charging and embodimentsdisclosed herein are not limited to single phase or three phase ACpower. In an embodiment, the single phase AC power may be a high voltageDC power, such as, for example, 500VDC.

In one embodiment, the energy storage device 350 is located outside ofthe transportation refrigeration unit 22, as shown in FIG. 1. In anotherembodiment, the energy storage device 350 is located within thetransportation refrigeration unit 22. The transportation refrigerationunit 22 has a plurality of electrical power demand loads on the energystorage device 350, including, but not limited to, the drive motor 42for the fan 40 associated with the refrigerant heat rejection heatexchanger 34, and the drive motor 46 for the fan 44 associated with therefrigerant heat absorption heat exchanger 38. As each of the fan motors42, 46 and the electric motor 26 may be an AC motor or a DC motor, it isto be understood that various power converters 52, such as AC to DCrectifiers, DC to AC inverters, AC to AC voltage/frequency converters,and DC to DC voltage converters, may be employed in connection with theenergy storage device 150 as appropriate. In the depicted embodiment,the heater 48 also constitutes an electrical power demand load. Theelectric resistance heater 48 may be selectively operated by thecontroller 30 whenever a control temperature within the temperaturecontrolled cargo box drops below a preset lower temperature limit, whichmay occur in a cold ambient environment. In such an event the controller30 would activate the heater 48 to heat air circulated over the heater48 by the fan(s) 44 associated with the refrigerant heat absorption heatexchanger 38. The heater 48 may also be used to de-ice the return airintake 136. Additionally, the electric motor 26 being used to power therefrigerant compression device 32 also constitutes a demand load. Therefrigerant compression device 32 may comprise a single-stage ormultiple-stage compressor such as, for example, a reciprocatingcompressor or a scroll compressor. The transport refrigeration system200 may also include a voltage sensor 28 to sense the voltage from theenergy storage device 350.

As described above the energy storage device 350 is used to electricalpower the transportation refrigeration unit 22. The energy storagedevice 350 is integrated within an energy management system 300. Theenergy management system 300 comprises an electric generation device340, the energy storage device 350 configured to provide electricalpower to electric motor 26, the electric motor 26 configured to powerthe transportation refrigeration unit 22, a power management module 310,and an inertial sensor 360.

The electric generation device 340 is configured to harvest electricalpower from kinetic energy of the trailer system 100. The electricgeneration device 340 can be at least one of an axle generator and a hubgenerator mounted configured to recover rotational energy when thetransport refrigeration system 20 is in motion and convert thatrotational energy to electrical energy, such as, for example, when theaxle 365 of the trailer system 100 is rotating due to acceleration,cruising, or braking. The electric generation device 340 may be mountedon or operably connected to a wheel axle 365 of the trailer system 100and the hub generator may be mounted on a wheel 364 of the trailersystem 100. It is understood that the electric generation device 340 maybe mounted on any wheel 364 or axle 365 of the trailer system 100 andthe mounting location of the electric generation device 340 illustratedin FIG. 1 is one example of a mounting location.

The electric generation device 340 will then use the generatedelectrical power to charge the energy storage device 350. In analternate embodiment, the electric generation device 340 may be operablyconnected to the wheel axle 365 or wheel 364 through at least onemechanical linkage, such as, for example a drive shaft, belt system, orgear system. The mechanical linkage configured to rotate the electricgeneration device 340 as the wheels 364 or wheel axle 365 rotates whenthe electric generation device 340 is activated. The electric generationdevice 340 may comprise a single on-board, engine driven AC generatorconfigured to generate alternating current (AC) power including at leastone AC voltage at one or more frequencies. In an embodiment, theelectric generation device 340 may, for example, be a permanent magnetAC generator, asynchronous, or a synchronous AC generator. In anotherembodiment, the electric generation device 340 may comprise a singleon-board, engine driven DC generator configured to generate directcurrent (DC) power at at least one voltage.

The inertial sensor 360 is configured to detect at least one of adeceleration of the vehicle 102 and a downward pitch of the vehicle 102(e.g., indicating the vehicle 102 is moving downhill) The inertialsensor 360 may be a 5-axis sensor. The inertial sensor 360 may beconfigured to detect three linear accelerations and two rotationalaccelerations. The three linear acceleration may be along an X-axis, aY-axis, and a Z-axis of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.The rotational accelerations may be around two of the three axis of thethree-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, such as, for example, theX-axis and the Z-axis. The inertial sensor 360 may accomplish thisdetection utilizing a plurality of connected sensors or a single sensor.In an embodiment, the inertial sensor 360 is a single sensor inelectronic communication with the power management module 310. The powermanagement module 310 is configured to activate the electric generationdevice 340 when the inertial sensor 360 detects at least one of thedeceleration of the vehicle 102 and the downward pitch of the vehicle102. The inertial sensor 360 may also include a GPS device in order topredict in advance at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle 102and the downward pitch of the vehicle 102. The power management module310 is in electrical communication with at least one of the energystorage device 350, the electric generation device 340, and the inertialsensor 360.

The power management module 310 may be an electronic controllerincluding a processor and an associated memory comprisingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to perform various operations. The processor may bebut is not limited to a single-processor or multi-processor system ofany of a wide array of possible architectures, including fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU),application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signalprocessor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arrangedhomogenously or heterogeneously. The memory may be a storage device suchas, for example, a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readablemedium.

The inertial sensor 360 is configured to detect a deceleration of thevehicle 102. The inertial sensor 360 is in operative association withthe vehicle 102 and may detect when a brake 103 of the vehicle 102 isbeing applied to slow the vehicle 102 and/or the vehicle 102 isdecelerating without the brakes 103 being applied (i.e., driver letsfoot off accelerator pedal). The inertial sensor 360 is in operativecommunication with the power management module 310 and the powermanagement module 310 controls the operation of the inertial sensor 360.The power management module 310 is configured to activate the electricgeneration device 340 when the deceleration is greater than a selecteddeceleration, which may indicate that some propulsion motor 320 rotationis no longer needed to drive the vehicle 102 and it is a good time tobleed off some rotational energy of the wheels 364 or axle 365 of thetrailer system 100 using the electric generation device 340. Bleedingoff rotational energy of the wheels 364 or axle 365 when the vehicle 102is decelerating helps reduce any performance impact to the ability ofthe propulsion motor 320 to power the vehicle 102.

The inertial pitch sensor 360 is also configured to detect a pitch angleof the vehicle 102. The power management module 310 is configured toactivate the electric generation device 340 when the when the pitchangle is less than a selected pitch angle, which may indicate that somepropulsion motor 320 rotation is no longer needed to drive the vehicle102 and it is a good time to bleed off some rotational energy of thewheels 364 or axle 365 of the trailer system 100 using the electricgeneration device 340. For example, when the vehicle 102 is descendingdownhill with a negative pitch angle, gravity assists in driving thevehicle downhill and the full capacity of the rotational energy of thewheels 364 and axle 365 may no longer be needed to drive the vehicle102. Bleeding off rotational energy of the wheels 364 or axle 365 whenthe vehicle 102 is descending downhill helps reduce any performanceimpact to the ability of the propulsion motor 320 to power the vehicle102.

The electric generation device 340 may also include a rotationalvelocity sensor 360 a configured to measure the rotational velocity ofthe electric generation device 340 (e.g., rotations per minute (RPM)).The rotational velocity sensor 360 a of the electric generation deviceis in operative communication with the power management module 310 andthe power management module 310 may control the operation of therotational velocity sensor 360 a. The power management module 310 isconfigured to determine when the vehicle 102 is decelerating utilizingthe inertial sensor 360 and the rotational velocity sensor 360 a, whichmay indicate that some propulsion motor 320 rotation is no longer neededto drive the vehicle 102 (i.e., the vehicle is going downhill ordecelerating) and it is a good time to bleed off some rotational energyof the wheels 364 or axle 365 of the trailer system 100 using theelectric generation device 340. Bleeding off rotational energy of thewheels 364 or axle 365 when the vehicle 102 is decelerating or goingdownhill helps reduce any performance impact to the ability of thepropulsion motor 320 to power the vehicle 102. The power managementmodule 310 may detect a state of charge of the energy storage device 350and determine whether the energy storage device 350 may take additionalcharge (i.e., electrical power). For example, the power managementmodule 310 may detect that the state of charge of the energy storagedevice 350 is less than a selected state of charge (e.g., 50% charged).If the power management module 310 detects that the state of charge ofthe energy storage device 350 is less than a selected state of chargethen the power management module 310 may increase the torque limit ofthe electric generation device 340 for a selected period of time if thetransport refrigeration system 200 is also detected to be deceleratingand/or going downhill (i.e., free energy). The selected period of timemay be short enough, such that the electric generation device 340 doesnot overheat. Advantageously, temporarily raising the torque limit ofthe electric generation device 340 for a selected period of time allowsthe electric generation device 340 to generate as much electric power aspossibly when the energy is “free” and there is space in the energystorage device 350. As discussed above, energy may be considered “free”when the vehicle 102 is moving downhill or decelerating.

Additionally, the power management module 310 is configured to decreasethe torque limit of the electric generation device 340 when therotational velocity of the electric generation device 340 deceleratesgreater than a selected deceleration. If the electric generation device340 decelerates too fast, this may be indicative of wheel 364 slippage,thus the torque limit of the electric generation devices may betemporarily lowered to help the wheel regain traction with the road.

Referring now to FIG. 3, with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.3 shows a flow process illustrating a method 400 of operating atransport refrigeration system 200 comprising a vehicle 102 integrallyconnected to a transport container 106, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. At block 404, a transportation refrigerationunit 22 is powered using an energy storage device 350. As discussedabove, the transportation refrigeration unit 22 is configured to provideconditioned air to refrigerated cargo space 112 enclosed within thetransport container 106.

At block 406, the energy storage device 350 is charged using an electricgeneration device 340 operably connected to at least one of a wheel 364of the transport refrigeration system 200 and a wheel axle 365 of thetransport refrigeration system 200. The electric generation device 340being configured to generate electrical power from at least one of thewheel 364 and the wheel axle 365 to charge the energy storage device 350when the electric generation device 340 is activated. At block 408, aninertial sensor 360 detects at least one of a deceleration of thevehicle 102 and a downward pitch of the vehicle 102.

At block 410, a power management module 310 activates the electricgeneration device 340 when the inertial sensor 360 detects at least oneof the deceleration of the vehicle 102 and the downward pitch of thevehicle 102. The method 400 may further comprise: detecting a pitchangle of the vehicle using the inertial sensor 360; and activating,using the power management module 310, the electric generation device340 when the pitch angle is less than a selected pitch angle.

The method 400 may also comprise: detecting a deceleration of thevehicle 102 using the inertial sensor 360; and activating, using thepower management module 310, the electric generation device 340 when thedeceleration is greater than a selected deceleration. The method 400 mayalso comprise: detecting a state of charge of the energy storage device350; and increasing a torque limit of the electric generation device 340for a selected period of time when the state of charge is less than aselected state of charge. In one embodiment, the torque limit of theelectric generation device 340 for a selected period of time when thestate of charge is less than a selected state of charge and the pitchangle is less than a selected pitch angle. In another embodiment, thetorque limit of the electric generation device 340 for a selected periodof time when the state of charge is less than a selected state of chargeand the deceleration is greater than a selected deceleration.

Additionally, the method 400 may also comprise: detecting a rotationalvelocity of the electrical generation device 350 using a rotationalvelocity sensor 360 a; and decreasing, using the power management module310, a torque limit of the electric generation device 340 when therotational velocity of the electric generation device 340 deceleratesgreater than a selected deceleration. A rapid increase in decelerationmay be indicative of a wheel 364 slipping. As discussed above, therotational velocity sensor 360 a is in electronic communication with thepower management module 310.

While the above description has described the flow process of FIG. 3 ina particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwisespecifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of thesteps may be varied.

As described above, embodiments can be in the form ofprocessor-implemented processes and devices for practicing thoseprocesses, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form ofcomputer program code containing instructions embodied in tangiblemedia, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any othercomputer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer programcode is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes adevice for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in theform of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storagemedium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted oversome transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, ortransmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagneticradiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into anexecuted by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicingthe exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purposemicroprocessor, the computer program code segments configure themicroprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associatedwith measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipmentavailable at the time of filing the application. For example, “about”can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,element components, and/or groups thereof.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to anexemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents maybe substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made toadapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the presentdisclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof.Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated forcarrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosurewill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transport refrigeration system comprising: atransport container enclosing a refrigerated cargo space, the transportcontaining being integrally connected to a vehicle; a transportationrefrigeration unit in operative association with the refrigerated cargospace, the transportation refrigeration unit configured to provideconditioned air to the refrigerated cargo space; an energy storagedevice configured to provide electrical power to the transportationrefrigeration unit; an electric generation device operably connected toat least one of a wheel of the transport refrigeration system and awheel axle of the transport refrigeration system, the electricgeneration device being configured to generate electrical power from atleast one of the wheel and the wheel axle to charge the energy storagedevice when the electric generation device is activated; an inertialsensor configured to detect at least one of a deceleration of thevehicle and a downward pitch of the vehicle; and a power managementmodule in electrical communication with at least one of the energystorage device, the electric generation device, and the inertial sensor,wherein the power management module activates the electric generationdevice when the inertial sensor detects at least one of the decelerationof the vehicle and the downward pitch of the vehicle.
 2. The transportrefrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the inertial sensor isconfigured to detect a pitch angle of the vehicle, and wherein the powermanagement module is configured to activate the electric generationdevice when the pitch angle is less than a selected pitch angle.
 3. Thetransport refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the inertial sensoris configured to detect a deceleration of the vehicle, and the powermanagement module is configured to activate the electric generationdevice when the deceleration is greater than a selected deceleration. 4.The transport refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the powermanagement module is configured to detect a state of charge of theenergy storage device and increase a torque limit of the electricgeneration device for a selected period of time when the state of chargeis less than a selected state of charge.
 5. The transport refrigerationsystem of claim 2, wherein the power management module is configured todetect a state of charge of the energy storage device and increase atorque limit of the electric generation device for a selected period oftime when the state of charge is less than a selected state of chargeand the pitch angle is less than a selected pitch angle.
 6. Thetransport refrigeration system of claim 3, wherein the power managementmodule is configured to detect a state of charge of the energy storagedevice and increase a torque limit of the electric generation device fora selected period of time when the state of charge is less than aselected state of charge and the deceleration is greater than a selecteddeceleration.
 7. The transport refrigeration system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a rotational velocity sensor configured to detect arotational velocity of the electrical generation device, the rotationalvelocity sensor being in electronic communication with the powermanagement module, wherein the power management module is configured todecrease a torque limit of the electric generation device when therotational velocity of the electric generation device deceleratesgreater than a selected deceleration.
 8. The transport refrigerationsystem of claim 4, further comprising: a rotational velocity sensorconfigured to detect a rotational velocity of the electrical generationdevice, the rotational velocity sensor being in electronic communicationwith the power management module, wherein the power management module isconfigured to decrease the torque limit of the electric generationdevice when the rotational velocity of the electric generation devicedecelerates greater than a selected-deceleration.
 9. The transportationrefrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage deviceincludes a battery system.
 10. The transportation refrigeration systemof claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is located outside of thetransportation refrigeration unit.
 11. The transportation refrigerationsystem of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is located withinthe transportation refrigeration unit.
 12. A method of operating atransport refrigeration system comprising a vehicle integrally connectedto a transport container, the method comprising: powering atransportation refrigeration unit using an energy storage device, thetransportation refrigeration unit being configured to provideconditioned air to refrigerated cargo space enclosed within thetransport container; charging the energy storage device using anelectric generation device operably connected to at least one of a wheelof the transport refrigeration system and a wheel axle of the transportrefrigeration system, the electric generation device being configured togenerate electrical power from at least one of the wheel and the wheelaxle to charge the energy storage device when the electric generationdevice is activated; detecting, using an inertial sensor, at least oneof a deceleration of the vehicle and a downward pitch of the vehicle;and activating, using a power management module, the electric generationdevice when the inertial sensor detects at least one of the decelerationof the vehicle and the downward pitch of the vehicle.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: detecting a pitch angle of the vehicleusing the inertial sensor; and activating, using the power managementmodule, the electric generation device when the pitch angle is less thana selected pitch angle.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:detecting a deceleration of the vehicle using the inertial sensor; andactivating, using the power management module, the electric generationdevice when the deceleration is greater than a selected deceleration.15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: detecting a state ofcharge of the energy storage device; and increasing a torque limit ofthe electric generation device for a selected period of time when thestate of charge is less than a selected state of charge.
 16. The methodof claim 13, further comprising: detecting a state of charge of theenergy storage device; and increasing a torque limit of the electricgeneration device for a selected period of time when the state of chargeis less than a selected state of charge and the pitch angle is less thana selected pitch angle.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:detecting a state of charge of the energy storage device; and increasinga torque limit of the electric generation device for a selected periodof time when the state of charge is less than a selected state of chargeand the deceleration is greater than a selected deceleration.
 18. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: detecting a rotational velocityof the electrical generation device using a rotational velocity sensor,the rotational velocity sensor being in electronic communication withthe power management module; and decreasing, using the power managementmodule, a torque limit of the electric generation device when therotational velocity of the electric generation device deceleratesgreater than a selected-deceleration.
 19. The method of claim 15,further comprising: detecting a rotational velocity of the electricalgeneration device using a rotational velocity sensor, the rotationalvelocity sensor being in electronic communication with the powermanagement module; and decreasing, using the power management module, atorque limit of the electric generation device when the rotationalvelocity of the electric generation device decelerates greater than aselected deceleration.
 20. A computer program product tangibly embodiedon a computer readable medium, the computer program product includinginstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform operations comprising: powering a transportation refrigerationunit using an energy storage device, the transportation refrigerationunit being configured to provide conditioned air to refrigerated cargospace enclosed within the transport container; charging the energystorage device using an electric generation device operably connected toat least one of a wheel of the transport refrigeration system and awheel axle of the transport refrigeration system, the electricgeneration device being configured to generate electrical power from atleast one of the wheel and the wheel axle to charge the energy storagedevice when the electric generation device is activated; detecting,using an inertial sensor, at least one of a deceleration of the vehicleand a downward pitch of the vehicle; and activating, using a powermanagement module, the electric generation device when the inertialsensor detects at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle and thedownward pitch of the vehicle.